VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: December 20, 2021

Afghanistan

Pakistan Must Not Interfere in Afghan Affairs: Karzai: Tolo News

On Sunday, Khan at the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting on Afghanistan said Daesh threatens Pakistan from Afghanistan, adding that stability in Afghanistan is necessary. “We have had attacks from (the) Afghan border, from ISIL, into Pakistan,” he said.Click here to read... [2]

India-Central Asia Dialogue: Prevent Terrorism in Afghanistan: Tolo News

Foreign Ministers of India and the five Central Asian Republics – Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan – on Sunday held the 3rd India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi. .Click here to read... [3]

Tariq Ali Bakheet appointed OIC’s special representative to Afghanistan: The Khaama Press

Organization of Islamic Cooperation in a statement said that the organization’s Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha announced Tariq Aali Bakheet’s appointment as his special envoy to Afghanistan. .

Stop propagating against Afghanistan, Daesh has been threatening Afghanistan from Pakistan: Karzai to Imran Khan: The Khaama Press

Afghanistan’s former president Hamid Karzai reacted to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statements and called them inflammatory and sheer disrespectful for the people of Afghanistan. .Click here to read... [4]

Bangladesh

PM to visit Maldives from Dec 22- Asian Age

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit the Maldives from on December 22 at an invitation of Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih where Dhaka and Male are likely to sign four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on different issues including overseas employment. .Click here to read... [5]

The climate crisis is also a water crisis- Dhaka Tribune

The hype of COP26 is fading and it will be another year’s wait before we can truly comprehend the outcome of the draft.Click here to read... [6]

President’s talks with political parties over new EC starts Monday with Jatiya Party- Dhaka Tribune

The outgoing election commissioners were similarly appointed through a search committee after president’s dialogue with parties. .Click here to read... [7]

Resolution to Rohingya crisis is in Myanmar, not Bangladesh- Dhaka Tribune

Nearly all Rohingya refugees at the camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char wish to return to their home country when it is safe, according to UN official. .Click here to read... [8]

‘Never break the chain of command’: Hasina tells BGB personnel- Daily Star

Stressing the importance of following the chain of command, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel to perform their responsibilities with patriotism, honesty and discipline. Click here to read... [9]

BNP takes out colorful Victory Day rally- Asian Age

Vowing afresh to "awaken people for the restoration of democracy", BNP on Sunday took out a colorful rally in Dhaka city, marking the 51st Victory Day. .Click here to read... [10]

Bhutan

“Accountability!”- Kuensel

The 114th National Day celebrations yesterday brought the Bhutanese society together once again to celebrate its blessings and rejoice the achievements. .

Translation of His Majesty’s Address to the Nation on the 114th National Day- Kuensel

On the auspicious occasion of our National Day, I offer my deep prayers to Guru Rinpoche, humble reverence to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, and profound gratitude to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.Click here to read... [11]

Govt. working to trim down internet charges- Bhutan Times

With consumers continuing to make a beeline of complaints on social media platforms that their data gets exhausted so fast without using much of it, the government is now working to reduce internet prices and make services more affordable to the consumers. .Click here to read... [12]

Corruption and incompetency must be snubbed: HM- Bhutan Times

Increasing accountability and reducing corruption through stronger enforcement of laws and regulations remains a serious concern as His Majesty the King addressed the nation at the 114th National Day celebrations on 17 December from TrashichhoDzong, Thimphu. .Click here to read... [13]

Bhutanese red rice and honey, crowd-pullers at the ongoing World Expo in Dubai- BBS
The Bhutanese red rice and honey have been attracting many people at the ongoing World Expo in Dubai. The two products are among more than a 100 other items being displayed by the Bhutan pavilion at the Expo. .Click here to read... [14]

Maldives

Maldives confirms 131 new Covid-19 cases, 168 recoveries - Raajje

According to the latest figures publicized by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), a total of 4,434 samples were tested for the virus between 6pm Friday and 6pm Saturday. Of these, 22 were confirmed from the Maldives congested capital, Malé City, 87 were detected from residential islands and 22 from operational resorts. .Click here to read... [15]

In the Maldives: Time to walk the talk on terror - MENAFN
The Maldives has been named, by the country's current Speaker of Parliament no less, the nation with the highest per capita fighters in foreign terror wars. .Click here to read... [16]

Japanese ambassador showered with praise for commitment to boost Maldives-Japan ties - Raajje
Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Keiko Yanai has been showered with praise from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, for her “tremendous” commitment to enhance the long-standing ties between Maldives and Japan. The Japanese ambassador paid her farewell call on the Maldivian president at the President’s Office on Wednesday. .Click here to read... [17]

Myanmar

Two pastors killed; Christians targeted by Burmese Army - The Alabama Baptist

Two pastors died in December in Chin state as the Burmese Army continues its assault on Christians and churches, according to International Christian Concern. .Click here to read... [18]

Thailand warns Myanmar it will return fire if more artillery shells land in its territory again - Mizzima

According to a source from the Karen National Union (KNU), Thailand has warned that it will return fire if more artillery shells by the Myanmar Military Council landed again in Thailand. A KNU official said the warning came after the artillery shells fired by the Military Council exploded on the Thai side of the border on December 16 and 17. .Click here to read... [19]

Thailand sends refugees back to Myanmar as clashes continue - Reuters

Thailand has sent over 600 Myanmar refugees who fled fighting between the military and ethnic rebels back across the border, according to a senior Thai official who said on Sunday clashes were continuing. .Click here to read... [20]

UN expert underscores importance of human rights for Rohingya - UN News

“Bangladesh saved untold numbers of lives when it opened its arms and hearts to Rohingya people who survived these most unspeakable of horrors inflicted on them by the Myanmar military”, said Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar at the end of his first official visit to the Bangladesh. .Click here to read... [21]

Japan: Cut Defense Ties with Myanmar Military - HRW

The Japanese government should cut ties with the Myanmar military and immediately suspend a military study-abroad program involving Myanmar cadets, Human Rights Watch said today. .Click here to read... [22]

The army sniper who put Myanmar’s dictatorship in his sights - Myanmar Now

In April 2019, Zwe Mahn, a lance corporal in the Myanmar army, was fighting in Rakhine State’s Ann Township when a member of his unit was shot during a clash with the Arakan Army (AA). .Click here to read... [23]

UN Security Council members complicit in arms sales to Myanmar military junta: NGO - Mizzima

NGO Justice For Myanmar is calling for an investigation and global arms embargo over arms and military aircraft being sold to the Myanmar junta that illegally grabbed power in a coup in February. .Click here to read... [24]

Nepal

PM calls all-party meeting- Himalayan Times
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has called an all-party meeting at 4:00pm tomorrow to discuss the stalemate in both the houses of Parliament and the Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement that Nepal has signed with the United States. .Click here to read... [25]

Medical equipment of Rs 20 million handed to Parbat hospital- Himalayan Times
Health equipment and appliances amounting to around Rs 20 million were handed to the Parbat District Hospital. .Click here to read... [26]

On MCC, UML sits on the fence as issue threatens coalition

Oppositions skips Deuba-called meeting, where majority voices oppose immediate tabling of US grant in the House. .Click here to read... [27]

Committee formed to mark Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day- Republica

A committee comprising representatives from Nepal Academy, Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, Nepal Academy of Fine Arts and Cultural Corporation has been formed to mark the 300th Prithvi Jayanti and national Unity Day. .Click here to read... [28]

Let’s only buy bio-degradable prayer flags- Nepali Times

Buddhist prayers for virtousness and compassion are getting a green makeover in Nepal
https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/lets-only-buy-bio-degradable-prayer-flags/" target="_blank">Click here to read...

Pakistan

KP local govt polls seem swinging away from PTI: Dawn

In the first local government elections since the merger of tribal districts with Khyber Pakhtun¬khwa, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) appeared to be losing ground as Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) was leading on many fronts. .Click here to read... [29]

PM Imran meets OIC head, ministers of several member states: Dawn

During the conference it was agreed that all Muslim states would actively confront Islamophobia in all its forms and a wing similar to Pakistan’s Rehmatul-lil-Alameen (PBUH) Authority would be set up at the OIC level for the purpose. .Click here to read... [30]

Power hike of Rs4.33 per unit on cards: The Express Tribune

In case, the national regulator approves the application, power consumers would be burdened with an amount of Rs40 billion. .Click here to read... [31]

OIC sets up ‘humanitarian fund’ for Afghanistan: The Express Tribune

The announcement of the fund was part of the measures the 57-member Islamic bloc agreed upon after the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted by Pakistan. .Click here to read... [32]

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka arrests 55 Tamil Nadu fishermen; Stalin urges Centre to act: Mint

As many as 55 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested and 8 boats seized by Sri Lankan Naval personnel on Sunday following which Chief Minister M K Stalin took up the matter with the Centre to secure their release and all the 73 boats captured so far by the neighbouring country. .Click here to read... [33]

Govt in a sinister move to deny the country’s bankrupt status: Ruwan: Daily Mirror

Government is in a sinister move to deny the bankrupt status which the country is facing, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday. .Click here to read... [34]